Water Handling System

ABSTRACT

A water handling system features collapsible containers which have ports on either side. The ports allow multiple containers to be connected together so that they can be filled in sequential order. The ports have quick-connect fittings by means of which a cap, an inter-container connector, and/or a spout member can be connected to the containers. Dissolving electrolyte-providing members are suitably provided to be inserted into the containers so that pure water collected, e.g., from an atmospheric moisture harvester can be remineralized.

GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT AND INTEREST

This invention was made with Governmental Support under Contract Number N00014-05-C-0378 dated Sep. 14, 2005, and issued by the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The Government has certain rights in the invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the handling, storage, and local transport of fluid, particularly water from atmospheric water harvesters or other slow drip sources.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Container-based water handling systems are indispensable for the distribution of water where no piped infrastructure or mechanical transport exists, because water is heavy. Manual distribution of water is especially important in remote areas and disaster relief situations.

The hidden costs of bottled water production and distribution including the increased cost of transport, and the costs of the bottles themselves and their collection and disposal in economic and environmental terms is considerable. The economic cost to supply water bottles for the more than 8 billion gallons of water in the United States alone is on the order of 17 million barrels of oil (Pacific Institute, 2007). This is enough energy to fuel more than 1 million American cars and trucks for a year and is a continuing cost to the economy and the environment. The carbon footprint of the bottled water industry, which is an integrated measure of energy and combustible material used, is relatively high.

Water harvesting is a Point Of Use (POU) system for producing potable drinking water and is an alternative to the provision of water in bottles. In contrast to piped systems, it requires no delivery infrastructure. Because it does not require water bottles in direct proportion to the amount of water produced, water harvesting is advantageous both economically and environmentally, especially when used with either direct pipe or hose delivery or by using a series of reusable containers. Because some local governments are banning plastic water bottles, and others are considering doing so, the provision of POU high quality potable water via an atmospheric water harvester is a viable alternative to bottled water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system of water containers and connecters and other fittings as described herein has the potential to significantly reduce the requirement for plastic water bottles. The container-connector-based water handling system described herein allows for robust, safe local storage and minimal handling and transport issues during use. It also has a relatively low carbon footprint.

More particularly, the invention features a system of standardized water containers, valves, connectors, and other peripheral equipment that improve on the existing situation for manual handling of water—particularly where large amounts of water are collected over a relatively long period of time—without the need for an attendant. The invention minimizes the requirement for an operator to be present while ensuring that provision is made for the collection of variable amounts of water without spillage in safe and sanitary conditions. In addition, the containers detach easily from the water production apparatus and enable easy manual transport.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in greater detail in connection with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, somewhat schematic, of a container according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a closure fitting employed in the container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a connection fitting employed in the container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a container-to-container connector for linking multiple containers, as shown in FIG. 5; and

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b are a side view and a perspective view, respectively, of outlet spouts for use with containers as shown in FIG. 1.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Containers 10 according to the invention are supplied compressed and expand as fluid is flowed into them, especially where the fluid is produced intermittently and in a situation where constant attention is not possible or desired. More particularly, the invention provides a system of containers, connectors, and ancillary items such as caps and remineralization strips, amongst other things, which may be used as a portable system for automatically capturing water. In a situation where the water collection system will be unattended for longer than it would normally take to fill one container, the system allows a number of containers to be filled. Suitably, the system containers may be used with an atmospheric moisture harvesting system.

This inventive system is based on durable but flexible waterproof containers, made, for instance, from fabric or plastic. These are compressed or folded flat before use. They are used with a series of fixtures having a common quick-fit connection by which water can be introduced and withdrawn from the containers and by which they may be connected to one another and to hoses, pipes, and other water handling equipment. The containers expand as the water floods the containers.

FIG. 1 shows this type of water container 10 schematically, which is formed to an approximate rectilinear shape. When the container is filled with water, there will be extension of the sides that will introduce a more bag-like shape, but the forming will give the formed water container a basic shape. Any proportion between length and height can be fabricated, as desired. The volume of the container can be varied for special requirements, but standard containers will suitably be on the order of no more than five gallons, which is about the same as a standard military fuel can (a little over 40 pounds or 18 kg), so that it can be carried by a person of normal strength.

The container 10 is fabricated from material that is flexible along its continuous sides (top, back side, bottom, and front side 15) but that may be more rigid or semi-flexible on its flat sides 16. Two holes or ports 20 are provided that are opposed to each other on the upper corner of the container (only the port on the facing side is shown). The desired liquid volume of the container is reached about at the bottom of the ports, leaving an air gap above. FIG. 1 is diagrammatic with respect to the position of the port's height, and the position is not meant to be exact on the figure. The height of the filling assembly can be used to fix the height of the container, particularly where this system may be intended for use in capturing and storing water produced from an atmospheric water harvester that will have a particular height. The base of the container may be broader to enhance stability when filled. Side handles 30 and top handles 35 are essentially the same part but located so as to provide for direct lifting or for inclined lifting which allows the container to be tilted or carried from its side opposite from the port 20. The side handle 30 is on the opposite side of the container from the port 20. These handles 30, 35 may be composed of the same or similar plastic as the container material and are affixed by heat welding, glue, chemical process, or other common maimers of affixing similar flexible material. The handles are intended for carrying the container and for manipulating the container, especially when pouring from it.

Each of the ports 20 in the containers 10 is fitted with a rapid fitting assembly that will allow for a cap to close it off or for a number of different connectors to be fitted to it. A wide variety of fittings can be used; a partially threaded fitting, a clamp-type fitting, a bayonet fitting, or a ring-type snap-type fitting, for instance, are among the types available. A bayonet fitting is used here to demonstrate the preferred mode of operation of the system, although other types could be used. This type of fitting consists of a male fitting, which is inserted into female fitting and coupled by turning one against the other; a slight override or a mechanical clip may fix it in place and resist accidental uncoupling. The male fitting is shown as part of the container, and the female on the attachment, but this could be reversed. In a preferred mode, the male fitting, in the most common embodiment (FIGS. 2 & 3), consists of the exterior fitting piece 50 which is located on the outside of the wall of the container as shown in FIG. 5 and an interior fitting piece 55 that is located inside the container, which fitting pieces 50, 55 are fastened together by standard commercial means such as heat welding, glue, or solvent welding, among other possibilities. Along with the material of the container, the fitting pieces 50, 55 form a strong, watertight junction. These are made of a strong but somewhat flexible plastic or polymer. The diagrammatic forms in FIGS. 2 and 3 may have different appearances but their purpose—to bind the container material solidly and essentially form a part of the container—will remain the same. Other modes for fixing the container fitting pieces to each other include screwing, compression or snap fitting or other commercially available fitting mode; all of which accomplish the purpose of the preferred embodiment and which may be used. A washer 60 is compressed and forms a watertight seal when a male fitting is inserted fully.

The handles, flat sides, narrow sides, as well as the port fittings, may be made from different materials and bonded together.

A cap 65 (FIG. 2) allows for each port to be temporarily sealed, and containers 10 are initially supplied with all ports capped. The cap 65 includes the female fitting and a solid termination and is of a size allowing it to be easily gripped. Although the diagram shows a gripping ridge, a roughened, knurled, or faceted edge could also be used. In addition, a standard-size bolt head shape could also be used, either alone or with any of the other features. This would allow the cap to be fitted and removed by hand or with common tools.

FIG. 3 shows an example of another type of attachment 70 that provides for direct connection to common garden or other hoses, such as are used in most homes. In addition, other hose fittings having larger or smaller diameter hose or piping, such as laboratory tubing may be used.

FIG. 4 shows a connector 75 with female terminations 80 on both ends, connected permanently with a comparatively wide diameter short pipe 85, which may be somewhat flexible but strong enough not to crimp. No specific dimensions are implied from the proportion of the connector 75. This fitting is primarily used to connect two containers or in other applications connecting a container to something other than another container, such as a pipe segment or water producing apparatus having an appropriate connector.

This connector fitting 75 allows a number of water containers 10 to be linked together as is depicted in FIG. 5. When a number of empty containers (e.g., 101, 102, 103) are connected together and water is flowed into the first connector 90 and through it into the first water container 101, the water will expand the first bag as it fills owing to the weight of the water until the water level reaches the level of the connector between water containers (e.g., 101 and 102). Water will then begin to flow into container 102 as a spillover from the “upstream” container 101. Similarly, when container 102 is full, container 103 will begin to fill in the same way, and so on for any number of containers 10 and connectors 75. The weight of water will stabilize the connected bags and the connectors will hold them in place.

The upstream connector 90 into which water flows first may be affixed to an atmospheric water harvester or other water-producing or collecting system that has an appropriate male fitting on its output port (not shown). The furthest downstream termination 65, on the other hand, may be firmly closed or left slightly open to allow for air equilibration, which would be more important on a reused water container. The advantage to being able to temporarily link water containers in this way is that they can be left unattended, and this allows for the collection of variable amounts of water without spillage. Removal of full containers is a simple matter of manipulating the quick-fit connection and manually removing any full container and replacing full water containers with empty ones.

Pouring spouts having a standard attachment fitting (FIG. 6 a) can be used for pouring directly from the water containers or affixed directly to any appropriate fitting for use. An angled pouring spout 105 may be connected directly to a water container using its standard fitting 80. Spouts may be connected to either side or both sides of the container ports. With this spout, water from the container and spout 115 may be poured by lifting the top handle 35 and the side handle 30 of a container. Pouring spouts of many shapes and sizes are designed to meet particular requirements, for instance as a pouring spout on an atmospheric water harvester having a standard attachment fitment 80 and a water outlet 115 with pumped water outlet ports or a water container.

Spouts can also serve as upright spigots or faucets (FIG. 6 b) that pour water directly from water harvesters or storage tanks into drinking containers as well as other containers (such as drinking glasses or smaller bottles). In addition, the standard attachment fittings can be used to connect a water harvester or other collection device directly to a variety of hoses for direct delivery to a local POU.

Water treatment for purification will normally be carried out prior to water being put into the containers. However, where an atmospheric water harvester produces the water, it will have the character of distilled water and will be very low in dissolved solids. For well-known health and safety reasons, drinking water should not have too low a level of electrolytes. Therefore, water treatment dissolving “electrolyte strips” 17 (FIG. 1) of soluble electrolytes commonly found in water and required for health reasons can be included within each newly provided water container for remineralization of the water. These dissolving tabs also can be provided separately. As the water fills a new water container, the electrolyte strip dissolves and the water is suitable for drinking. Where water containers are reused, strips can be manually inserted either before or after the water fills the container, with the water container shaken to provide mixing. The electrolyte strips may also contain soluble salt solution that will provide small amounts of chlorine or other water quality chemicals to EPA or other standards. New compressed containers will be supplied sterilized to food grade standards. Reused containers can be re-sterilized from time to time.

Where water is to be removed from a container for use, a simple faucet or valve similar to those presently supplied on larger bottled water containers (not shown) but having the standard male fitting, is inserted into either or both of the water container ports 20 and the container inverted on a table or counter top. As the water is removed, the containers naturally recompress for easy handling. They are then ready for immediate re-use. They may also be dried by air inflation and recompressed manually where longer storage between uses is required. Capped connectors 65 (FIG. 2) are used to close the opening securely in a watertight fitting.

Although the invention can be applied to the handling of all fluids, it particularly applies to water, and more particularly to water produced by atmospheric water harvesting. Any fluids having a similar time/volume profile of collection could be treated in the same manner. Thus it is understood that all descriptions herein that refer specifically to water produced by water gathering methods or through atmospheric water harvesting also encompass other fluids and their handling by similar means. 

1. A container for receiving and holding liquid therein, comprising: a plurality of sides defining a liquid-receiving, liquid-retaining enclosure, at least some of the sides being configured to allow the container to be compressed to a reduced dimension and to expand upon introduction of liquid into the container; a pair of ports on opposite sides of the container by means of which liquid can be introduced into and removed from the container, the ports having attachment fittings; and at least one cap securable to the container via one of the attachment fittings.
 2. The container of claim 1, wherein the attachment fittings comprise bayonet fittings.
 3. The container of claim 1, further comprising a handle for lifting and manipulating the container.
 4. The container of claim 1, wherein the container holds on the order of about five gallons of liquid.
 5. The container of claim 1, further comprising a dissolving electrolyte-providing member disposed therein.
 6. The container of claim 1, further comprising a dissolving chlorine-providing member disposed therein.
 7. A system for collecting water, comprising: at least two containers, each comprising a plurality of sides and having a pair of ports on opposite sides by means of which liquid can be introduced into and removed from the container, the ports having attachment fittings; at least one cap securable to one of the containers via one of the attachment fittings; and at least one inter-container connector configured to attach to the attachment fittings to join the at least two containers together in fluid communication.
 8. The system of claim 7, further comprising one or more spout members attachable to the attachment fittings.
 9. The system of claim 7, further comprising dissolving electrolyte-providing members disposable within the containers.
 10. The system of claim 7, further comprising a dissolving chlorine-providing member disposed therein. 